I’ve been waitlisted by Duke (Prat school of engineering). I’m an international applicant and I applied for financial aid. This lowered my chances of admission a lot because they say they only accept 20-25 such applications per year.
My stats are below; I wrote in my application that I only took the SAT test once and I must have flown abroad and I self-studied for all of my tests which was true.
SAT: 650 R + 750 M (curve!!!)
SAT subjects: Physics: 770, Math level 2: 800
TOEFL: 102
ECs: theater, music, volunteer service, started an organization, paid work, serious research, student government,…
Awards: math olympiad national medal, some research/invention ones state/school
I’m a girl and I think my recommendation letters were pretty good, my teachers know me well.
My essays were also pretty impressive. I mean my common app one! because my engineering essay was copy-pasted wrongly on my application and I emailed my regional counselor to correct it less than a month before decisions come! (such a sham dude!)
Do you think I should take the SAT again? or you think the fact that I’ve been waitlisted means I’m qualified academically and
I should demonstrate my fit for the school? (I think I’ve proven my academic strength by my awards, letters of recommendation, and subject tests and the SAT may not be a huge factor for the school of engineering! let me know if you disagree)
In the end, How can I increase my chances of admission?! I REALLY want to get off the waitlist!
The fact that you are intl and applied for FA are the main reasons your were not admitted. Don’t take the SAT again; it won’t do anything for you. Otherwise, don’t obsess on the “why” because they will never tellyou and you can;t do anything about it anyway.
The fact that you were not outright rejected is an accomplishment, but the reality is that there are for more people on the WL than will ever be admitted. By all means send a LOCI, but in the meantime, love the school that loves you back; based on your other thread, you have some great choices. Good luck.
@JenniferClint
Are you sure 102 isn’t great?! It IS for international students who don’t go to international high schools!
Please check the minimum TOEFL score for Ph.D. teacher assistantship position in most of the American universities, it’s 80! MIT’s minimum score for undergrad is 90!
All top schools have a minimum/recommended score of 100!
FYI, there’s no single school in the US that believes you can’t communicate in/ comprehend English if you score 102+!
As far as I know, when you cut the minimum/recommended score, it doesn’t matter how high your score is in the TOEFL score.
But it seems you think differently; I’d be so glad if you give me some reasons/pieces of evidence as to why you think so.
(Moreover, I think it’s not so polite to tell someone that they have real issues with English!! Is it? However, I’m not that kind of person and appreciate your criticism and advice!)
Anyways, I could do better at the test if I had prepared myself at more than a month! Most of these scores are about how much you know the test format, not your language proficiency.
I didn’t compete at the IMO, I wasn’t selected for that; there aren’t many facilities for girls in the roadway, in my country; there are only a handful of girls who’ve ever made into the national level! However, I took the IMO test simultaneously at my eleventh grade and scored as high as a bronze medal.
As noted upthread, send in a letter of continued interest and include any new awards but coming off the wait list is a long shot. Focus on the schools where you have been accepted.
Being an international student requiring financial aid is a big hurdle.
Some colleges allow for an additional information update to be submitted between early and regular admissions. This update can be used to submit a short essay of what you’ve been doing. I don’t know is Duke does this… and after witnessing.
@AnxiouselyHappy I really don’t think you need to “prepare” for the TOEFL. I’m not saying it’s the reason you weren’t accepted. Just pointing out that it might be a factor. 650 on the reading portion of the SAT is also a perfectly acceptable score but it usually won’t cut it at a place like Duke. I didn’t mean to offend.
I have met international students with near perfect SAT/TOEFL scores. That is your competition. Being waitlisted is a pretty significant accomplishment.
Contact your regional admissions officer. That is your best bet.
Retaking SAT or TOEFL is not going to help.
You were not admitted because you are international and need financial aid.
You can choose to remain on the wait list, and send updates (recent awards or accomplishments).
If your family can afford to send you without aid, then you can let them know.
There is a very slim chance to get off the wait list, so you should start making other plans.
I disagree with this. If the college requires a certain score (100 seems to be the most common) this is an example where higher ≠ better. The TOEFL is, IMO, like the written test for a drivers license - it only matters if you pass. If a cop stops you, s/he won;t care if you passed with a 100 or with an 85; you’re still getting a ticket.
Regardless, the TOEFL score is not the reason the OP was waitlisted.